And, in the Kings Mountain Little Theatre production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” the promise of free food and refreshments lures the unruly Herdman kids to their local church, where they bully their way to the lead roles in the Christmas play.

Witnessing the six brothers and sisters behaving badly, whether it’s setting off the church smoke alarm, stealing the sacramental wine or terrorizing the other kids in town, is what makes the play funny. But it’s seeing those same kids learn the true meaning of Christmas that makes it heartwarming, said director Nikki Wood.

“They’re just really needy kids,” said Wood, a Kings Mountain native. “They’ve never been to church. They’ve never had the opportunity to understand what happens at church or the opportunity to learn the Christmas story of Jesus.”

“You’ve got constant fighting during rehearsals and they take everything literal,” Wood said. “When somebody says ‘Break a leg,’ the Herdman kids are down on the floor trying to break each others’ legs.”

Gradually, the Herdmans begin to take the lessons of the season to heart. They’re angered that Mary must give birth in a stable and enraged that Herod attempts to kill the baby.

Unimpressed by the gifts of frankincense and myrrh offered to the baby Jesus by the three wise men, they instead offer up the ham they got from welfare because that was a valuable gift to them.

“You start to see the transition where Imogene, Lea and the other kids really want to understand the Christmas story,” Wood said.

The same is true of the 31 kids and teens from Cleveland and Gaston counties that are starring in the KMLT production. While going through rehearsals, the cast, which ranges in age from 6 to 16 years old, decided to collect toys and other items for the Angel Tree. All of the toys that will be underneath the Christmas tree onstage during the show will go towards making the holidays a bit brighter for children in Cleveland County.

“It’s something that’s really touched the hearts of our cast as well,” she said. “They’ve really started to get the meaning of Christmas.”

KIDS BEHAVING BADLY

The Kings Mountain Little Theatre presents “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” about a group of unruly kids who end up being cast in a church Christmas play, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7-8 and 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Joy Performance Center, 202 S. Railroad Ave., Kings Mountain. Tickets are $5. Reservations can be made 24 hours in advance at 704-730-9408.